The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-08-04
ILLINOIS, FIRST GOVERNOR.
shadra IN Bond, Half Forgotten States
man and an Honest Man.
Special Correspondence. ]

Shadra IN ibOnu, n Hail OTBOlteh SAdtco-
man and an Honest Man.
Special Correspondence
CHAMPAIGN, Ills, July 26.-Illinois, the
fourth-possibly third-state in population
and material prosperity, has not reached the
SEVENTEEN year Of its history.
OF its 3,5OO,O inhabitants, comparatively
few perhaps realize that at the beginning OF
the century nearly its whole territory was in
possession of the Indians.
government fort here and there, and in
the southern portion few struggling settle
ments, was all that redeemed the whole region
from being complete wilderness.
For some years prior to 1909 it constituted
part of the territory of Indiana, but at the
date mentioned the territory of Illinois was
organized, and in the year. 1912 sent its first
delegate to congress The name of this dele
gate was Shadrach Bond, a strong, sensible,
vigorous pioneer, in the prime of life.
He was born in Frederick county, Mary
land, in 1773, where he spent his earlier years
IN his fathers farm and meantime acquired
plain English education
~ 4''i NNuht1 i'OlIhb nav lio JuoO NOiAiC y,
age, emigrated to the Illinois country an1
lived for time with his uncle, Shadrach
Bond, ST., who had made home in the
American Bottom, near Kaskaskia. AT AL
ton, Ills, the bluffs on the east side of the
Mississippi recede from the river and do not
approach it again till the mouth Of the Kas-
kaskia is reached at Chester. Between the
bluffs and river there is thus left level strip
Of country, varying from ten 10 fifteen miles
in breadth, with deep, rich, black soil of ex-
ceeding fertility and named by the early set
tiers the American Bottom.
Here lived at the beginning of the century
perhaps three. fourths of the inhabitants of
the country that today comprises the state
of Illinois
As the French were the earliest settlers
their unique customs and simple habits were
impressed upon and to some degree followed
by the Americans who came later and gradu-
ally peopled the Bottom.
All kinds of heavy work, as harvesting,
house raising, ETC., was done in common. No
one expected pay for work in the harvest
field, and if neighbor was stricken with
sickness his friends gathered in and did up
his work Flax was one Of the crops raised
and was ready for pulling at the same time
the wheat fields ripened. As the girls pulled
fax it often happened that the young of both
sexes from whole neighborhood congregated
at the same farm house in harvest time.
The wheat was cut with sickles and reap
hooks by the younger men, while the bound
sheaves were gathered up and put in shocks
by the old men and boys.
At noon time all came in for dinner, when,
first of all, young and old, male and female,
went to the spring and washed hands and
feet, for nearly every one was barefoot
Then with what appetites they gathered
round the heavily laden table that was spread
and waiting in the yard under shade treesl
The table had been improvised by laying
loose boards-frequently those that made up
the sides and bottom Of the wagon body
upon cross pieces, that in turn rested upon
the fOrked ends of stakes driven in the
ground. These boards were brushed and
secured till they were clean, when the dishes
THAI had been gathered from all over the
neighborhood were put upon them. The
htarty harvesters, male and female, gathered
LrOund this rude table and were seated upon
benches, rails and slabs The most venerable
man at the table asked q blessing and very
soon thereafter drank glass of rum, several
bottles Of which made part of every feast.
While yet young man Bond was chosen
to the legislature of Indiana, of which Illinois
then formed part. In 1912, as before mem
toned, he was sent to Washington as the first
delegate from Illinois territory to the national
congress- Here he succeeded in getting an
act passed by which settlers were enabled to
pre-empt the land upon which they had To-
not I'D nd 10 inn,
relating to lands had been in q
chaotic state, and no one knew what moment
lie would be driven from his new home.
About 1914 Bond moved to Kaskaskia and
became the owner Of q large farm near that |
place. For some years previous to this he
had lived on fine farm in what is now Mon
roe county.
In 1918 Shadrach Bond was chosen the first |
governor Of the vigorous young state of ILL |
nois that had just been admitted into the |
Union. His popularity and many sterling |
traits of character enabled him to reach this |
high place without opposition. In this sud- |
den transition of Illinois from q territory to |
many important measures came I'D |
for consideration, and great were the respon-
slbilitles thrown upon the shoulders of the |
executive, but everything was met with
characteristic promptness and determination
on the part of Governor Bond.
After serving one gubernatorial term Bond
was appointed register of the land Office at
kaskaskia, where he continued till old age
overlook him, still discharging the duties of
The Office to the satisfaction of all concerned.
lie died April IL, 1884, with the love and re-
'pect OF every one who knew him. Bond
county In southern Illinois perpetuates his
name In its earlier history this county was
very large, and embraced much territory that
has since been organized into other counties.
Today 1t IS one Of the smaller counties, but
within Its borders the pioneer in the BEGIN
nlng oil the century was called upon to face
many dangers. One incident illustrative of
his truth we will give: In 1911 family of
he name of Cox lived on Shoal creek, not far
rom the present village of Pocahontas. This
ame year, on the I'd day of June, the family,
ave young man and girl, had occasion to
% away from home, when a party of Indians
suddenly rushed upon the cabin, killed the
7oung man, and after mangling his body left
{ upon the floor, and carried off the girl, to-
,ether with some horses.
a pursuing party numbering eight persons
vas soon made up, of which Col Pruit was
aptaln and Henry Cox and Ben Cox men,
'ers The Indians were overtaken about
ifty miles north of Springfield, when, &C
ordlng to one narrator, sort of "bashful
light" ensued, and In the excitement which
Ctend6Q this the vODn0 pirl hroke away